The Point of It All
Paul McLachlan is a multidisciplinary artist working in Mataura and Wānaka, New Zealand aotearoa. His practice explores the challenge of the image and the origins of visual language, tracing how motifs and archetypes emerge, circulate, and accrue meaning. He engages intimately with materials and processes, moving between printmaking, tapestry, drawing, and hybrid painting-engraving techniques. Starting from local experiences or landscapes, his work expands outward, reflecting on deep time, cultural histories, and the layered forces that shape perception and worldview. Through textured surfaces and expressive mark-making, McLachlan balances immediacy with complexity, revealing the hidden connections between place, memory, and the histories embedded within the forms we see.
Permanent COLLECTIONS
American Embassy, Wellington Pōneke
Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Wellington Pōneke
Vela family collection, hamilton Kirikiriroa
Canterbury University Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, Christchurch Ōtautahi
Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery, Hamilton Kirikiriroa
Pataka Art + Museum, Porirua
crags investment partners
The WrightMann Collection, Christchurch Ōtautahi
Eastern Southland Gallery, Gore Māruawai
St peter’s college, Gore Māruawai
Invercargill Public Art Gallery, murihiku
The Hocken collection, university of otago Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, Dunedin Ōtepoti
Venice Printmaking Studio collection, Italy
Guanlan International Print Biennial Collection, China
Stefan Simchovitz Collection, USA
Daniel Del Core, Couture Atelier, Milan, Italy
RESIDENCIES
2018 Da Luz Camacho Residency, Portimao, Portugal
2017 TextielLab Collaboration Project, Tilburg, The Netherlands
2016 University of Canterbury Print Studio
2016 Surface Arts Residency, Bangkok, Thailand
2013 Large Format Printmaking Residency, Venice Printmaking Studio, Italy
selected awards
2024 Innovation Award, ILT Southland Art Awards, invercargill murihiku
2023 Winner, ILT Southland Art Awards, invercargill murihiku
2019 Winner, Aspiring Art Prize, Wānaka
2020 Winner, Arts Gold Awards, cromwell, Tīrau
2018 Jury Award, Wallace Art Awards, Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau
2017 Winner, Peters Doig Marlborough Art Awards, Blenheim Te Waiharakeke
2017 Mark Stevenson Patron’s Choice Award, Blenheim Te Waiharakeke
2013 Winner, Southland Annual Spring Exhibition, invercargill murihiku
2013 Ethel Susan Jones Fine Arts Travelling Scholarship, University of Canterbury Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
2010 Winner, Select 2010, University of Canterbury Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
EDUCATION
2010 – 2011 Masters in Fine Arts (Distinction), University of Canterbury, Christchurch Ōtautahi
2005 – 2008 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Wellington Pōneke
selected exhibition history
2025 underlands, season aotearoa, Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau
2025 New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Awards, Hamilton Kirikiriroa
2025 Aspiring Art Prize, Wānaka
2025 He Hikoi a Te Awaawa Mataura, Eastern Southland Gallery, Gore Māruawai
2024 Te Au Nui, Eastern Southland Gallery, Gore Māruawai
2023 Of, For, By, He Waka Tuia, Invercargill murihiku
2023 Echoes, Milford Galleries, Dunedin Ōtepoti
2023 The Whakatipu Chronicle, Milford Galleries, Queenstown Tāhuna
2023 Kawarau 2, Milford Galleries, Queenstown Tāhuna
2023 Aspiring Art Prize, Wānaka
2022 FINER POINTS, Milford Galleries, Dunedin Ōtepoti
2022 Elements, Milford Galleries, Dunedin Ōtepoti
2021 Whenua, Milford Galleries, Queenstown Tāhuna
2020 The Review, Milford Galleries, Queenstown Tāhuna
2020 Flora, Milford Galleries, Queenstown Tāhuna
2020 Show+Tell, Milford Galleries, Dunedin Ōtepoti
2020 Aspiring Art Prize, Wānaka
2019 Arts Gold Awards, Cromwell
2018-19 Wallace Art Awards Touring Exhibition
2018 Kanohi kitea: The familiar faces of Pataka, Porirua
2018 Editions, Solander Gallery, Wellingon Pōneke
2017 Anima Tapestries, Casa Spazio, Palermo, Italy
2017 Peters Doig Art Awards, Blenheim Te Waiharakeke
2017 Simco’s Club Gallery, Los Angeles
2016 Holy Fire, Chambers241, Christchurch Ōtautahi
2016 Looking for Shadows, HOF Art Space, Bangkok
2016 Locking Antlers with the Clouds, HOF Art Space, Bangkok
2016 Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards, Whakatane
2015 Art in Embassies, American Embassy, Wellington
2015 Home Ground, Pataka Art + Museum, Porirua
2015 Paper Works, The Columbo, Christchurch Ōtautahi
2014 Tregear’s Maori, Chambers241, Christchurch Ōtautahi
2014 Home Ground, Uxbridge, Howick Owairoa
2014 New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Awards, Hamilton Kirikiriroa
2014 Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards, Whakatane
2013 Venice Printmaking Studio Gallery, Italy
2013 Southland Art Awards, Anderson Park, Invercargill
2013 New Zealand Contemporary Art Awards Finalist, Hamilton Kirikiriroa
2013 Home Ground, Chambers241, Christchurch Ōtautahi
2013 Guanlan International Print Biennale, China
2012 Impressive III, Nathan Homestead, Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau
2012 Wallace Art Awards finalist, Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau
2012 New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Awards, Hamilton Kirikiriroa
2011 Wallace Art Awards finalist, Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau
2011 MFA Exhibition, (Un)Common Ground, Ilam Gallery, christchurch Ōtautahi
2011 nth degree, Ilam Gallery, christchurch Ōtautahi
2011 impression, ilam gallery, christchurch Ōtautahi
outside the Mataura Studio
beacon point, lake Wānaka. semi-Home.